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HE ancestor of this noble family, Robert de Pierrepont, is mentioned in Doomsday-book, as poffeffed of the lordships of Henettede and Wretham, in Suffolk, and holding them of the famous William earl of Warren, one of the greatest among thofe nobles who accompanied William the Conqueror in his expedition into this kingdom. The family alfo continued poffeffors of Chatteau Pierrepont, in the fouth confines of Picardy, 35 Hen. I. 13 Hen. II. and 2 Ric. I. Befides the lordships in Suffolk, the aforefaid Robert held Hurft in Suffex, ftill retaining the name of Hurft-Pierrepont, with other lands in that county, amounting to ten knights fees. He was likewife a lieutenant-general in the Conqueror's army. A defcendant of his, Sir Henry Pierrepont, married Annora, fole daughter to Michael de Manvers (who died 39 Hen. III.) and fifter and heir to Lionel de Manvers, whereby he got feveral lordships in Nottinghamshire; particularly Holme, now called Holme-Pierrepont; his widow likewife recovered the town of Bafingfield in the fame county. They had iffue two fons, Simon and Robert: Simon, by a special writ June 8, 32 Edw. I. had fummons among others to attend the king at Portsmouth aft of September following, thence to fail with him into Gafcoigne; he left only a daughter, Sibilla, married to Edm. Ufford. His brother Sir Robert, who fucceeded him, was feveral times of the retinue with

prince Edward, and with him when king Edw. II. in his expedition into Scotland. In 9 Edw. II. he obtained a charter for free-warren in all his demefnes, with his lordfhips of Holme, Holbeck, Woodhoufes, Lanaiford, and Weston in Northamptonshire; as alfo Northanefton, Southanefton, and Treton in the county of York; in 11 Edw. II. he was made governor of Newark-caftle upon Trent. And in 1 Edw. Ill. he had fummons to be at Newcastle to reftrain the incurfions of the Scots, and was one of the chief commanders under the young king in perfon. Also, in confideration of his fpecial fervices in thofe Scottish wars, he obtained a general pardon for all trefpaffes in the foreft of Shirewood, having been 7 Edw. III. with the king in the famous battle of Hallidown against the Scots. He was fummoned by the faid king, as a baron, to parliament. He married Sarah, daughter of Sir John Heriz, knt. alfo fifter and heir to John de Heriz, by whom his pofterity, namely, in Sir Henry Pierrepont, one of the knights for Nottinghamshire in parliament 5 and 9 Henry V. as alfo 2 and 3 Hen. VI. recovered against Ralph lord Crombewell, the manors of Wynfeld, Tibefchelf, Gomalfton, and Widmerpole, as coufin and heir of Sir John Heriz. His defcendant, Sir William de Pierrepont, 19 Henry VII. was made one of the knights of the fword at the creation of Henry prince of Wales. In 5 Hen. VIII. for his exemplary valour at the fieges

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of Therouenne and Tournay; alfo, in the battle of the Spurs that enfued, he had the honour of knightbanneret conferred on him; and the year after a confirmation of the grant to his ancestor for free-warren in all his lordships and lands. He had two wives; first Joan, daughter of Sir Brian Stapleton, knt. by whom he had an only daughter, Elizabeth, married to John Sacheverel of Morley in Derbyshire. And by his fecond wife, daughter of Sir Richard Empfon, he was father of Sir George Pierrepont, who received the honour of knighthood 1 Edw. VI. at the king's coronation; and dying 6 Eliz. feifed of feveral manors and advowfons, he left Henry his fon and heir, by his second wife Winifride, daughter of William Thwaites of Oulton in Effex, and heir to her brother; by whom he had alfo iffue Gervafe and William, with two daughters, Anne and Ifabel. This Henry was knighted, and had to wife Frances, eldest daughter of Sir William Cavendish of Chattefworth, Derbyshire, by whom he had one fon, Robert, who was created earl of Kingston, and four daughters. Robert, his only fon and heir, was a lieutenant-general of the forces of king Charles I. and was by letters patent, 29 June, 3 Car. I. advanced to the dignity of a baron, by the title of lord Pierrepont of Holme-Pierrepont in Nottinghamshire, and viscount Newark; and 25 July the next year, created earl of Kingston upon Hull. At the breaking out of the grand rebellion he brought 4000 men to his majefty, and vigorously opposed the parliament's commiffion of array. His lady, who furvived him, was Gertrude, daughter and co heir to August 1761.

Henry, third fon to George earl of Shrewsbury. Henry, his eldeft fon and fucceffor, for his great merits towards K. Charles I. by letters patent bearing date at Oxford 25 March, and twentieth of his reign, was raifed to the title of marquis of Dorchefter in Dorsetshire. This nobleman was a perfon of great learning, and married firft, Cecilia, daughter to Paul viscount Baining, by whom he had a fon, Robert, who died an infant, and two daughters. His fecond wife was Catharine, daughter to James earl of Derby, by whom he had one fon, Henry, who died in his infancy; fo that Robert, the grandfon of William the fecond fon of Robert earl of Kingston, fucceeded to the earldom. The faid William was in all the commiffions to treat with his majesty Charles I. being one who always preffed for an accommodation with the king. He heartily efpoufed the intereft making for the restoration of kingCharles Il. and was one of the members for Nottinghamshire in that memorable convention which voted his return. In this parliament he represented many inftances of the oppreffion of the court of Wards fo effectually to the house of Commons, that he perfuaded them to redeer. themfelves by an offer of the Excife, which was complied with. He died before Henry Marquis of Dorchefter in 1679, and on account of his great judgment, obtained the appellation of "Wife William." He had married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Harris of Tongcaftle in Shropshire, bart. ferjeant at law, by whom he had five fons and as many daughters; Robert, hereafter mentioned; Henry, who

died unmarried; William, who died in his infancy; George, who died unmarried; alfo Gervafe, who was several times member for Appleby in Weftmoreland; and on Mar. 21, 1703, the 2d of queen Anne, was created baron of Pierrepont and Ardglafs in Ireland; and Octob. 19, 1714, 1ft of king Geo. I. was made a peer of this kingdom, by the title of baron Pierrepont of Hanflape in Bucks. He married Lucy, daughter to Sir John Pelham of Laughton in Suffex, bart. but dying in 1715, without iffue, those titles became extinct. The five daughters of William were Frances, married to Henry earl of Ogle, afterwards duke of Newcastle, Eleanor and Margaret, who died young, Grace wedded to Gilbert earl of Clare, and Gertrude third wife to George viscount, and afterwards marquis of Halifax, by whom he had a daughter Elizabeth, wife to Philp, earl of Chesterfield, and father to the prefent earl Philip Dormer. The above-mentioned Robert, eldest fon and heir of William Pierrepont,marriedElizabeth daughter and co-heir to Sir John Evelyn of Weft-Dene in Wilts, knt, and died in the life-time of his father, anno 1699. He left iffue three fons, Robert, William, and Evelyn, and a daughter, Gertrude, married to William lord Cheyney, vifcount Newhaven in Scotland. Robert, the eldeft fon of the faid Robert, on the death of Henry marquis of Dorchefter in 1680, fucceeded to the title of earl of Kingston, and dying unmaried in 1682, William his next brother enjoyed the title. This William, earl of kingfton, married Anne, the eldest daughter of Robert, lord Brooke, by whom he left no iffue; and dying in Septemb. 1690, Evelyn his

only brother and heir fucceeded him in honour and estate; while a commoner he was member for EastRetford in Nottinghamshire, and upon the demife of his brother, took his place in the house of peers, November 1690. Her majefty queen Anne, in confideration of his great merits, was pleased to advance him 29 December 1706, and fifth of her reign, to the honour of marquis of Dorchefter, with remainder to Gervafe lord Pierrepont and his heirs male. On November 4, 1714, he was conftituted lord Warden and chief juftice in Eyre, of all his majefty's parks, &c. beyond Trent. The year after, king George I. created him duke of Kingston by letters patent, dated July 20, 1715; on December 14, 1716, his grace was appointed lord privy-feal; and February 6, 1718-19, lord prefident of the council; and April 29, 1719, elected a knight of the most noble order of the garter; and was thrice, in the fame reign, appointed one of the lords juftices, while his majesty was at Hanover. He married to his firft wife, the lady Mary Fielding, daughter to William, and fifter to Bafil earl of Denbigh, by whom he had an only fon, William, and three daughters, lady Mary, married to Eward Wortley Montagu, efq; fon and heir of Sidney Wortley, Montagu, fecond fon of Edward the first earl of Sandwich; lady Frances, married to John Erefkine, late earl of Mar, whofe only daughter was married to her firft coufin James Erfkine, fon of James Erskine, commonly called lord Grange; and lady Evelyn, the first wife of John lord Gower, created earl Gower. His grace married to his fecond wife, in August 1714, the lady Ifabella Bentinck,